Chelsea Milling Co. now has a 21st century tour

When I recently toured the new facilities of the Chelsea Milling Company, not only was I surprised, but I also was briefly reminded of how far we've come in terms of technology and business.

The company, known for its Jiffy Mix brand, has been in operation for four generations of the Holmes family, but in the past year, they've made a host of improvements.

Aside from adding six new gigantic silos and a brand new research and development building, the company also completely revamped its public tour.

My photographer and I began our tour with a informative, entertaining five-minute video in a small theater room, built to seat more than 30 tourists.

Considering my unfamiliarity with the company, I was still rather impressed with its slick video presentation, which included a computer-generated cartoon Jiffy Mix box named Corny. Without giving away all the details, the video gives a complete synopsis of how Jiffy Mix is made, starting from the very beginning at local farmlands.

However, my photographer was blown away.

Having grown up in Chelsea, he said he had taken the tour countless times before the updates. He said before the renovation in late 2010, the tour began with a slideshow presentation (literally), where a tour guide would ramble off facts and tidbits about the company's production process. The phrase "out of date" probably didn't cover it.

As we toured the factory and research and development building, President and CEO Howdy Holmes told us he knew his company needed "more science" to keep up with competitors and stay viable.

Holmes and the employees of Chelsea Milling have accomplished that and more. The new tour is entertaining and educational for both children and adults. Perhaps what's most impressive is that a company with such strong family roots and history is willing to adapt and change with the technology of today.

If you haven't made it out to see the new tour, I would highly recommend seeing it the first chance you get.